Hampton Police Dept. honored for dedication to military

HAMPTON — Town Hall was packed with a number of police officials and officers Monday night, although it wasn't due to an emergency situation or a pressing concern that impacted the public's safety.

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By Kyle Stucker

seacoastonline.com

By Kyle Stucker

Posted Apr. 11, 2014 at 2:00 AM

By Kyle Stucker
Posted Apr. 11, 2014 at 2:00 AM

» Social News

HAMPTON — Town Hall was packed with a number of police officials and officers Monday night, although it wasn't due to an emergency situation or a pressing concern that impacted the public's safety.

Instead, the Hampton Police Department was at the center of a happy occasion to honor a dedicated officer's promotion to sergeant as well as that individual's efforts to get the department lofty recognition for its support of active military members and reservists.

Detective Alex Reno was promoted to sergeant during a special ceremony at the start of Monday's selectmen meeting, which also featured a ceremony to present each of the department's supervising officers with an Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve "Patriot Award."

Reno said his promotion was an honor, particularly because it means he joins a police administration that he said was "phenomenal" in helping him and his family while he was deployed to Qatar as part of the Air Force in 2010.

Reno said that type of support is common within the department, which is why he nominated Chief Jamie Sullivan, Deputy Chief Rich Sawyer, Lt. Tom Gudaitis, Lt. Dan Gidley and Detective Sgt. Steve Champey for the ESGR honor.

"They went above and beyond, which is not what most employers would normally do," said Reno.

Patriot awards reflect the "efforts made to support Citizen Warriors through a wide-range of measures including flexible schedules, time off prior to and after deployment, caring for families and granting leaves of absence if needed," according to ESGR's Web site, esgr.mil.

Reno said Hampton's police supervisors "made sure" his family was "OK" during his deployment and "always make sure" his shifts "are covered" during his reserve weekends, among other things. In his role as a first sergeant in the Air Force, Reno said it's his responsibility to takes care of the individuals in his unit and help them with life- and work-related issues, many of which often involve stress and difficulties stemming from his reservists' employers.

"Sometimes airmen come in and say employers are giving them a little grief because (being a reservist) is demanding and is a significant strain on employers," said Reno. "The purpose of having this award is to show gratitude for everything an employer does to make things easier (for military members and their families)."

Sullivan said receiving the personal award is "secondary" to the message that the award sends to military members within the department and town. He said it shows Hampton will do whatever it can to make them "feel appreciated."

"Anything we can do to support them is something we want to do," said Sullivan.

Sullivan joked that Reno's promotion isn't just because he's "sucking up" with the Patriot Award, which may also be followed by a Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award — the highest recognition given by the U.S. Government to employers for their outstanding support of military employees — at some point this month.

He said Reno is an "outstanding" officer and detective, and that he has brought "outstanding" leadership during his time in Hampton.

Reno will also become the department's prosecutor next month following the retirement of Sgt. Barry Newcomb, whom Reno said a "lot of people look up to." Reno said Newcomb's retirement is a "big loss" for Hampton and that the impending retirement made his promotion "bittersweet."

Reno, a former Hampton Academy school resource officer and the department's current juvenile prosecutor, said he owes his promotion to the support of his family — especially his wife, who is due to give birth in October — and his colleagues.

"I see it as an opportunity to continue to better myself and continue to take the police department in a positive direction," said Reno, adding that he's "excited" about the chance to now serve in a role that will allow him to provide more support and opportunity to other officers within the department. "It's not something I did by myself. I had a lot of help."